2016 Chrysler 300 SRT: It's Alive

Call it a comeback?

ANDREW WENDLER

May 4, 2015

BRIAN WILLIAMS , THE MANUFACTURER

What It Is: Less than a year ago, we snagged a pair of 2015 Chrysler 300s doing the hide-in-plain-sight thing, running around Detroit with the fresh bits—primarily the hood, fascia, and rump—obscured by the usual fabric cloaking. It was nothing unusual, as manufacturers have been using Motown surface streets to exercise almost-ready-for-primetime models for decades. What caught our eye then and now, however, was the inclusion of an SRT model, which was axed from Chrysler’s North American lineup at the end of the 2014 model year, when Chrysler reeled SRT back in under the Dodge banner. Chrysler told us in the interim that the 300 SRT was remaining in production for overseas markets like the Middle East, where the luxo-muscle sedan still has a rabid following. Spurred by the arrival of this set of fresh images, we called Chrysler for an update on all things 300 SRT. Officially, they have no comment.

Advertisement - Continue Reading Below

Why It Matters: Now that Fiat-Chrysler seems to have a handle on its nameplate hierarchy, Chrysler may be able to stretch out a bit without stepping on Dodge’s mission as the automaker’s performance brand. And seeing as Chrysler is already prepping a 300 SRT for other markets, it wouldn’t be a massive undertaking to re-up the model for American soil.

Platform: The 300 SRT in these images is clearly still riding on Chrysler’s LX full-size platform, incorporating the same mild lighting and fascia updates that appear on the 2015 Chrysler 300, with no major alterations aside from a row of LEDs in the lower fascia and a slightly different cutout for the radar sensor—which could be changes slated for all 2016 models. Besides the fully visible SRT badge, a duckbill rear spoiler, slotted rotors, and Brembo calipers, a set of twin-spoke wheels and a lowered stance tell the rest of the story.

Powertrain: While it’s all speculation at this point, we expect the 300 SRT—wherever it’s sold—to have the 6.4-liter Hemi V-8, perhaps with the same 15-hp and 5-lb-ft gains seen in the 2015 Challenger SRT 392 coupe. The possibility of the Hellcat V-8 making a cameo appearance under the hood are slim, not only because Chrysler is already having trouble meeting the demand for the 707-hp monsters, but once you start Hellcatting everything—much as we like the sound of that idea—you run the risk of diminishing its mystique. The 2014 300 SRT exited the American market with its 6.4-liter V-8 pumping out 470 horsepower and 470 lb-ft of torque.

Estimated Arrival and Price: If the 300 SRT does return stateside, it likely will be for the 2016 model year. With the base MSRP of the current Chrysler 300 starting in the low-$30K range and topping out at more than $45,000 for a 300C John Varvatos edition with all-wheel drive, it’s a good bet an SRT variant would be priced just north of 50 large. The base MSRPs for the 2014 300 SRT range stretched from $46,925 for a basic Core Edition model to $50,925.